Grilled Turkey Breast, Honey Roasted Carrots and Sweet Potatoes, Crunchy Salad

Food Shapes Character

What traditions were important to you as a child?  What traditions are important to you as a parent?  Whenever it’s somebody’s birthday or Mother’s/Father’s Day or just any random Sunday night, my local family, “the core” (that’s my sister, her kids, my dad, my husband and our kids) will enjoy a nice sit-down dinner.  On special occasions, we all watch, joke and laugh as the guest of honor opens all their cards (some hand-made by the kids) and opens their presents.

I truly enjoy watching my children say grace, eat (of course the family dinner) and listen to the conversations at the table.  As they mature, it’s fun to watch them interject their own opinions or comments into the exchange.  They don’t know it yet, but these nights are just as character-forming (if not more) as the college they select or the job they choose.  Now I do know that these dinners give my children confidence and shape their character but what I don’t know is how much of the dinner conversation they will actually remember – I can only hope for the best.

Grilled Turkey Breast:  This was the fastest, most delicious turkey breast I ever made.  I bought a 5-6 pound turkey breast and cut off the string that held it tightly together (otherwise it’s too thick).  You can grill the breast flat or I loosely tied it to keep it moist inside.

Marinade:  Mix about ¼ cup of EV olive oil with some herbs (basil, rosemary, thyme), salt/pepper and pour it over the turkey breast.  Let marinate for 10 mins. or 10 hours in a Ziploc bag.

• Grill on some tin foil on MEDIUM for 20 minutes each side.
• Take off the grill and cover with tin foil for 10 minutes.

Honey Roasted Carrots

• Peel carrots and cut into slices about 2 inches
• Toss with a little EV olive oil, salt/pepper and honey
• Roast for 30 minutes or until tender

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

• Peel sweet potatoes and cut in half – then slice into wedges.
• Lay on a baking sheet (line w/ parchment paper for easy clean-up) and toss with a sprinkle of brown sugar and salt/pepper.
• Roast for 30 minutes or until tender.

Crunchy Salad:

• Cut up some grape tomatoes, orange peppers, cucumbers and celery.
• Toss with some fresh basil, EV olive oil, salt/pepper and red wine vinegar.

How Can the Kids Help?

• Help measure/mix marinade for Turkey in Ziploc bag.
• Help peel the carrots (with help) and add herbs.
• Sprinkle sweet potatoes with brown sugar.
• Smash garlic and peel open for spinach.
• Color “Spencer the Sweet Potato”:  http://www.ncsweetpotatoes.com/images/stories/pdfs/spencerrope.pdf

Did You Know?

• Brown sugar is white sugar with molasses added to it
• Brown sugar has less calories than white sugar.
• A slice of apple or a few drops of water will loosen hard brown sugar in the bag.
• Sweet Potato Plant:  http://www.garden.org/images/App/articles/2125a.jpg